The midterm election 2014 gives opportunities to vote for candidates for various state offices including Governor and Congressional Representative, as well as a number of state and local propositions.

In-person voting will take place on Tues., Nov. 4. Polling hours are from 7 am to 8 pm. Polling places can be found according to your mailing addressby clicking here.

If you have not registered to vote, the last day to do so for this election is Oct. 20, 2014.

If you are uncertain if you are registered you may check your status by clicking here.

If you are voting by mail, return your vote-by-mail ballot early to ensure it is received no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day. Alternatively, you may drop your vote-by-mail ballot off at any polling location on Election Day. There is an insert included with your vote-by-mail ballot that tells you the location of polling places nearest to you.

You can view your ballot and other relevant information on-line for your county and district, or any other in California, by clicking here to use Voter's Edge, or use the Voter's Edge widget below.

KMUD News has covered a number of election issues in our local broadcast area and posted the audio from these on KMUD News SoundCloud. You can hear these stories by using the players below.

Holly Madrigal and Tom Woodhouse are battling it out for the 3rd District Supervisor seat in Mendocino county. The candidates faced off during an environmentally-focused forum, Kate Maxwell reports.

Proposition 1, the state's multi-billion dollar water bond, will be on the November election ballot and the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors is supporting its approval. Daniel Mintz reports.

If passed, Proposition 1 will approve the 4th largest water bond in California's history. Environmental groups are split on whether the bond is a good start for fixing California's water system. 2nd District Assemblyman Wes Chesbro says its not a good deal for Northern California. Kerry Reynolds reports, with research assistance from Christina Aanestad.

Proponents of State Proposition 45 seek to put control over health insurance rate hikes into the hands of California's insurance commissioner. On the pro side of Prop 45 is Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. Against Prop 45 is Micah Weinberg, a senior policy adviser and the Bay Area Council. Kerry Reynolds reports.

The Southern Humboldt Unified School district is seeking voter approval for Measure X. If approved, Measure X will authorize $10 million dollars for the school district's planned renovations. Monique Rowan files this report.

Medocino County Measure S will ban fracking in Mendocino, and establish a community bill of rights. Mendocino is one of three counties in California considering fracking bans this election, but is the only one with a community rights based initiative. Kate Maxwell reports...

Challengers Natalie Orroyo and Kim Bergel hope to create Eureka's first all-female City Council by ousting incumbents Chet Albin and Mike Newman in the November 4th election. The four candidates debated economic policy, the minimum wage, and downtown bathrooms at an October 20th forum. KMUD News Director Terri Klemetson introduces the story and Eric Black reports

55 year-old Randy Markin from Arcata (shown in the photo) was reported missing last Friday, Oct 24, 2014. Markin, who is diabetic, may be in need of his medication and therefore considered an at-risk missing person. Markin was last seen at his residence at about 1:00 am last Friday.

Randy Markin wears glasses and is described as: a white male adult 6' 3", 230 lbs. with long grey hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a tie-dye T-shirt, long leather jacket, and jeans. Anybody with information about the whereabouts of Randy Markin is urged to contact the Arcata Police Department at: (707) 822-2428. The APD press release appears below.

Arcata Police Department press release, dated 10/25/14:On 10/24/14 at about 3:00 PM, the Arcata Police Department received a missing person report on Randy Markin, 55 years old from Arcata. Markin was last seen at his residence on 10/24/14 at about 1:00 AM. An additional witness who is an acquaintance of Markin believes he saw him at ITF in Arcata on 10/24/14 between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM.

Randy Markin is a white male adult 6 feet 3 inches tall and about 230 pounds with long grey hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a tie-dye T-shirt, long leather jacket, and jeans. Markin also wears glasses. Markin is diabetic and may be in need of his medication and left his cell phone and wallet at home. He uses an electric wheelchair, which he is not currently in possession of.

APD officers have conducted an extensive search of the surrounding area and could not locate Markin. Officers talked to neighbors and local businesses who had not seen Markin.

Update: 10/29/14- Missing hunter, 59 year old Dave Stornetta, was found yesterday, Tues., Oct 28, by a search helicopter. Stornetta, an experienced outdoorsman, was located in good health and not in need of medical attention after surviving seven days, which included rain and low temperatures, in the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness in southeastern Trinity County where he was deer hunting. The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office press release announcing the rescue appears below as does the original post on this story.

TCSO press release, dated Oct. 29, 2014:On October 28, 2014 at approximately 5:00pm the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Dave Stornetta’s wife and advised the Sheriff’s Office that the family had located Mr. Stornetta via helicopter. Mr. Stornetta appeared to be in good health and did not appear to need medical attention. Dave Stornetta requested that the helicopter transport him back to the family’s hunting camp. Investigators will be contacting Mr. Stornetta once he returns to his residence regarding his location and movement while he was missing. The Sheriff’s Office is awaiting official confirmation of the exact location of where he was located.

Dave Stornetta (shown in the photo) , a 59 year-old experienced hunter, was reported as missing Wed., Oct. 22, 2014, after he failed to show at a planned meet-up with his son. Stornetta was last seen that Wed. at around 7 am and was hunting in an area of Southern Trinity near the Mendocino County line, described as east of Covelo, where the search for him is currently in progress.

Stornetta is described as: a white male, 5'9" weighing 180 lbs. with brown hair and hazel colored eyes. He was wearing a black baseball cap, green sweat shirt, camo pants and "Redwing" boots. When last seen he was accompanied by a white and liver colored McNabb breed dog with a red collar.

Anyone with information about this missing hunter is asked to call the Trinity County Sheriff's Department at: (530) 623-2611.

Update: Oct. 24, 2014: Brian McSilvers, one of the two inmates who walked away from a S.W.A.P. (Sheriff's Work Alternative Program) work crew on Oct. 14, was arrested without incident after being spotted by a Eureka Police Department Detective walking near 2nd and Q Streets in Eureka. The original post on this incident and photos of the missing inmates appear below.

Inmates assigned to a crew working behind Les Schwab Tires in Eureka walked away while clearing brush in a heavily wooded area. Brian Strehl McSilvers, 36 years old, and James Lawrence Henry Jr., 35, both being held on probation violation charges are being sought by law enforcement and if caught will face additional charges. Photos of the escaped inmates appear below.

Brian Strehl McSilvers is described as a white male, 150 lbs., short blond hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue denim shirt with a white tee- shirt underneath, blue denim pants and work boots. James Lawrence Henry Jr. is 5’ 10” tall, hazel eyes, brown hair and weighs 165 lbs.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539. The full Humboldt County Sheriff's Office press release appears below.

HCSO press release, dated 10/16/14:

On 10-14-2014, at approximately 10:30 a.m. two inmates, assigned to an inmate work crew, walked away from a job site they were at behind Les Schwab Tires, Eureka. A Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Officer was supervising the inmates who were clearing brush in a heavily wooded area. The Correctional Officer took a head count and noticed two inmates were missing. The Correctional Officer searched the immediate area for the missing inmates with no success. Eureka Police was notified and responded to assist with the search for the inmates who are now facing additional charges.

The inmates are identified as:1. Brian Strehl McSilvers, 36 years old, White male, 150 lbs, short blond hair, hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue denim shirt with a white t shirt underneath, blue denim pants and work boots. He was being held on a probation violation and was scheduled to be released on 10-24-2014.

2. James Lawrence Henry Jr. 35 years old, 5’ 10” tall, hazel eyes, brown hair, 165lbs, bald. He was last seen wearing a blue denim shirt with a white t shirt underneath, blue denim pants and work boots. He was being held on a probation violation and was scheduled to be released on 12-15-2014.

Both inmates are from Eureka. Henry is also known to frequent the Fortuna area.

Anyone with information for the Sheriffs Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriffs Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriffs Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.

Update, Sept. 23, 2014: According to the Mendocino Sheriff's Facebook page jail escapee, Brett Edward Harlan, (shown in photo) has been captured. The original post on this story appears below.

Law enforcement in Mendocino is looking for escaped jail inmate, 56-year old Brett Edward Harlan, (shown in the photo). According to a Mendocino County Sheriff's Office press release, Harlan was released from jail on a 4-hour pass to visit a sick relative and did not return by the expiration of the pass. Harlan is believed to be hiding in the areas of Willits or Redwood Valley and should be considered dangerous.

According to KMUD News Facebook, Harlan had been in custody in the Mendocino County Jail on the following charges from 09-04-2014: 10851(a) CVC - Theft of a motor vehicle, 273.6(a) PC - Violation of a court order, 2800.2(a) CVC - Evading a peace officer, 245(c) PC - Assault on a peace officer, 11377(a) HS - Possession of a controlled substance, and 1203.2 PC - Violation of probation."

Harlan is described as 6-feet tall, weighs 220 pounds and has a shaved head and a tattoo that reads “Shirley,” across his upper chest. Harlan also has a tattoo on the right side of the neck below the ear, a tattoo on back of his head and has a prosthetic right leg. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Harlan is urged to call 9-1-1 or the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office dispatch center at 707-463-4086. The full press release appears below.

MCSO press release, dated Sept. 18, 2014:On 09-16-2014 at approximately 7:00 PM Deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to contacted Mendocino County Jail staff regarding the escape of an inmate.

When Deputies arrived Jail staff advised that on 09-16-2014 the inmate, Brett Edward Harlan, was taken to the Mendocino County Superior Court to petition for a temporary 4-hour release pass, so he could visit a sick relative.

The pass was granted and Harlan was released, but he was ordered to return to the Mendocino County Jail on 09-16-2014 at 4:00 PM.

Harlan subsequently did not return by the listed date/time to surrender himself to Mendocino County Jail staff and he is now considered an Escaped Inmate.

Deputies learned Harlan informed family members after his release that he would not go back to jail or surrender himself as had been previously ordered by the court.

Deputies continued their searched for Harlan and followed up on leads but they could not locate him as hoped.

Harlan is believed to be hiding in the areas of Willits or Redwood Valley and should be considered dangerous.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Harlan is urged to call 9-1-1 or the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office dispatch center at 707-463-4086.

Harlan is described as being a 56-year-old white male adult, standing 6-feet tall and weighing 220 pounds.

Harlan has a shaved head and a tattoo of "Shirley' across the upper front chest area near the neck line. Harlan also has a tattoo on the right side of the neck belowthe ear, a tattoo on back of his head and has a prosthetic right leg.

Update, Sat. Sept. 13, 2014: Previously reported missing person, Holly Dickens, (shown in photo) is alive and well. According to Shelter Cove Fire Department, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office got a call from Holly's mother saying Holly telephoned her when she found out she had been reported missing. The original post on this story appears below.

20 year-old Holly Ann Dickens (shown in photo) was reported as missing yesterday to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office. Dickens is described as a white female, 20 years old, 5'-6" tall, 120 lbs., with strawberry blond hair and blue eyes. She is traveling in a black, 1992, Toyota, 4 Runner with Washington license plate AEU3042. A similar vehicle is shown in the photo below. If anyone has information about Holly Dickens, please call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251.

HCSO press release, dated 9/12/14:The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance with any information about a missing adult reported to this Office. On September 11, 2014 at 7:12 PM, a Deputy received information about a missing person that was believed to be traveling through Humboldt County and possibly in the Shelter Cover area. Holly Ann Dickens (attached picture) left the Washington State area and was going to travel to the San Diego area of California, to stay with her sister. Dickens last called her sister on Monday, September 9, 2014 and reported that she was going to be camping in the Shelter Cove area for the next couple of days. That was the last telephone communications from Dickens, which is out of character. Dickens is traveling in a black, 1992, Toyota, 4 Runner with Washington license plate AEU3042 (attached photo is not the vehicle, but similar to). Dickens is described as a white female, 20 years old, 5-06, 120, strawberry blond hair and blue eyes. If anyone has information about Dickens, please call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251.

Two victims of an apparent murder in the Fieldbrook area, northeast of Arcata, Calif., have been identified by the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office as Harley Wayne Hammers Jr., a 37 year-old, male and a 37-year-old female, Angel Robin Tully, both from Eureka. The victims were located on the evening of Wednesday, Sept., 3 following a 911 call reporting shots fired at a residence in the 4400 block of Fieldbrook Road, Fieldbrook.

After interviewing witnesses, officers identified an alleged suspect in the case as Jason Michael Arreaga, 29 years old from Lucerne, California (shown in the photo) and broadcast a "be-on-the-lookout" notice for Arreaga's vehicle, a Gold 2001 Buick four door sedan. This vehicle was spotted at 12:30 am this morning, Thurs, Sept 4, in south Eureka. Eureka Police Officers and HC Sheriff's Officers successfully followed and stopped the vehicle on US 101 at Singly Hill off ramp, Loleta. Arreaga was driving the vehicle and was arrested for two counts of homicide. He is currently being held on one million dollars bail. Fieldbrook Road was re-opened to traffic at 11:40 a.m. today. Hear more on the KMUD local news tonight at 6 pm.

HCSO Press Release, dated Thurs, Sept., 4, 2014:On 09-03-2014, at approximately 5:07 p.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding shots fired and a deceased female at a residence in the 4400 block of Fieldbrook Road, Fieldbrook. Deputies and medical personnel were dispatched to the scene. While deputies were enroute the Sheriff’s Office received additional calls with the callers saying the female was deceased near a trailer on the property and there was a male yelling for help in the driveway.The first deputy arrived on scene at 5:17 p.m. The deputy immediately learned there were two victims, an adult male, later identified as Harley Wayne Hammers Jr. 37 years old, from Eureka and an adult female, later identified as Angel Robin Tully, 37 years old, from Eureka, both whom had been shot. Hammers was located by the deputy across the street from where the shooting had occurred. Medical personnel treated Hammers for gunshot wound injuries and transported him Mad River Community Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Tully was declared deceased at the scene.

Sheriff’s Office Detectives responded to the scene, and the California Highway Patrol, and Humboldt County Public Works assisted with closing Fieldbrook Road, from Anker Lane to Wagle Lane, which had become part of the crime scene.

Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives searched the area for a shooting suspect and spoke with witnesses. Detectives learned during their investigation the suspect was Jason Michael Arreaga, 29 years old from Lucerne, California. Arreaga had been in an argument with the victims. Detectives learned Arreaga was driving a Gold 2001 Buick four door sedan. A be-on-the-lookout was broadcast for the vehicle to law enforcement agencies.

At approximately 12:30 a.m., 09-04-2014, a Eureka Police Officer spotted the Buick driving southbound on US 101 as it was passing through south Eureka. The Eureka Police Officer followed the vehicle until Sheriff’s Deputies arrived and assisted in the traffic stop. The vehicle was stopped on US 101 at Singly Hill off ramp, Loleta. Arreaga was driving the vehicle and Arreaga was arrested for two counts of homicide and was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked into jail. He is being held on one million dollars bail.

Detectives are still on scene, and still actively working on the case. They have requested Arreaga’ s photograph be withheld at this time while they continue interviewing eye witnesses.

The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office has scheduled the autopsies to be conducted 9-6-2014.

Additional information may be released at a later time as it becomes available, this is still an active investigation.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.

Special KMUD News programming aired today giving updates on the latest news about the Lodge Lightning Complex, including homeowners reacting to ‪the ‎Lodge Lightning Complex‬ Evacuation Order given last night (Friday, Aug., 8). Use the SoundCloud player below to hear this program.

The following information and maps were supplied by Bob Barsotti, dated Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 9:43 AM:

"The fire has crossed the fire line on Brushy Mountain and has burned approx 200acres on the east side of the line. They are hitting it hard w/ aircraft today, both heli & fixed wing. They have two new heli's here called sky cranes that are dipping at the gel plant set up at Alder Springs Vineyards pond and dumping the retardant on the fires. Today they are focussing on creating a new fire break through the rangeland east of the fire and west of Hwy 101 trying to make a disconnect if the fire heads further east today. The fire has also crossed the Eel at the mouth of 10 Mile canyon and will probably burn up to Camp Seabow today. They are pretty confidant they can stop it there, but they also felt that way yesterday on Brushy Mt. They are also focusing on stopping it from spreading towards Tan Oak Park by using the fixed wing aircraft dropping retardant all along the line there."

"Here are three maps showing the fire perimeter, the air ops, and the section map. I was especially impressed in the briefing of the pilots this AM when Calfire told them that after dipping in the gel plant, if they aren't sent right back for another load they need to go to their clean out dip to clean their tanks and hoses in case their next mission is to the river, as they cannot dip in the river with retardant in their systems. Hat's off to Calfire for their extreme attention to detail in the midst of chaos."

Update: From CalFire, posted at 7:00 AM, Aug. 9, 2014: An Evacuation Order has been issued for the area around the eastern boundary of the Lodge Fire in the following areas: Camp Seabow, Elder Place, Tan Oak Park, Bald Mountain Ranch, Mad Creek, Elk Creek east of Brush Mountain.

According to the update, the Lodge Complex has burned 7100 acres, is 30% contained and has involved 11 injuries with 58 structures threatened.

The CalFire Incident update describes the current situation as:"The fire continues to burn in heavy timber. Firefighters are challenged by steep, rugged terrain with difficult access. Late yesterday afternoon the fire made significant runs on the eastern portion of the fire. Eight firefighters were injured as the fire crested a portion of Brush Mountain. All eight firefighters were transported to burn centers and treated for burns; they remain in stable condition."

An evacuation shelter has been set up by the American Red Cross at the Leggett School, 1 School Way

Community meetings will be held today (Sat., Aug 9), in Leggett and Laytonville. The meeting in Leggett will begin at 1:00PM at Leggett School, 1 School Way. The meeting in Laytonville will begin at 5:00PM at the Harwood Hall, 44400 Willis Ave.

The original post on this announcement appears below.

Update Friday evening, Aug. 8: CalFire has now issued an Evacuation Order for the area around the eastern boundary of the Lodge Complex Fire in the area of Elk Creek east of Brush Mountain.

An “Evacuation Order,” means there is an imminent threat to life and property in the affected areas and people in these areas should leave the affected area immediately.

Additional Lodge Lightning Complex Community Meetings are scheduled for this Saturday, August 9th, in Leggett starting at 1 pm at Redwood Mercantile and in Laytonville at 5 pm held in Harwood Hall.

According to information recieved by KMUD News, Sheriff Allman said his office will issue evacuation warnings before any actual evacuations, and suggested that folks make sure they're registered in the county's Reverse 911 system in case evacuation notices are needed.

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